Apparatus for handling pins for ninepins or bowling, especially during cleaning

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for handling pins for ninepins or bowling is provided, and comprises a post that is adapted to be introduced into a bore of a pin and to be held securely in position therein. The post has a conical configuration and tapers toward a free end thereof.

The invention relates to an apparatus for handling pins for ninepins or bowling, especially during the cleaning of the pins, whereby the apparatus has a post that is introduced into a bore in the pin, where it can be held securely in position.

An apparatus of this type is known from DE 101 06 102 A1. DE 101 06 102 A1 describes an apparatus for the cleaning of pins, and has a drum or barrel like, upwardly open container that is provided on the inside with brushes and that can additionally be filled with water, a cleaning liquid, or the like. During operation, the brushes are supposed to rotate about the central axis of the container. For handling the pins in this cleaning device, an apparatus of the aforementioned type is used that is inserted into a bore in the base of the pin. The end of the apparatus remote from the pin has a handle. The apparatus is grasped at the handle, and in this way the pin, with the head facing downwardly, is submerged into the container, whereby it is cleaned by the rotating brushes. In this connection, one takes advantage of the fact that the plastic pins generally have a bore in the base for production reasons. The same is, of course, also true for pins made of other materials, such as wood or combinations of various materials, for example pins having a core of wood that is provided with a plastic coating.

The object of the invention is to embody an apparatus of the aforementioned type in such a way that the post has a straightforward configuration and can be fixedly held in the bore, whereby the connection should be easy and quick to produce and should also be releasable.

This object is resolved by the invention in that the post has a conical configuration and tapers toward the free end. The conical portion of the post is preferably additionally provided with an external thread, thus improving the connection still further.

As a consequence of the present invention, the pin can be received in a simple manner and can be secured against sliding out axially, and can also be secured against a twisting relative to the handle. For this purpose, the free end of the proposed apparatus is introduced into the hole disposed in the pin, generally in its support surface. With one half to two turns, the apparatus can be easily and securely connected with the pin, whereby the connection can be produced not only with plastic pins but also with wooden pins or pins made of various materials. In an advantageous manner, the threads in the post are embodied in such a way that on the one hand they bind in the bore in the pin, but on the other hand coincidentally also cut a thread into the bore.

Pursuant to an advantageous specific embodiment of the invention, provided ahead of the conical portion of the post, at its free end, is a cylindrical portion as a guiding aid.

Due to the conical configuration at the free end of the apparatus, pins having varying sized holes can be held. Thus, for example, pins of different configuration and/or manufacturers can be introduced in a like manner into the apparatus for the cleaning of pins pursuant to DE 101 06 102 A1.

Further details of the present invention will be explained with the aid of the drawing.

The FIGURE shows one embodiment of the invention.

The apparatus 1 comprises a rod-shaped body that can be produced from metal, for example by a turning operation. The apparatus has an end 2 that can be introduced into a bore in the base (i.e. in the support surface) of a pin. If a pin has a hole, especially a blind hole, at the top in its head, the apparatus can, of course, also receive such a pin. A handle or handgrip can be secured at the opposite end 3 of the apparatus 1. For this purpose, the end 3 is provided with a thread 4 onto which the handle (not illustrated) can be screwed or threaded. The handle can, for example, be a rod that is disposed transverse to the apparatus 1, so that the overall apparatus then has a T-shaped configuration, as is illustrated in the previously cited DE 101 06 102 A1. The connection of the apparatus with the grip can, for example, also be produced by welding.

Other configurations of a grip are also conceivable, such as, for example, a ring. At its end 3, the apparatus can, for example, also be connected to another device (not illustrated), which can, for example, automatically undertake the introduction of the pin into the cleaning device pursuant to DE 101 06 102 A1, so that such introduction then does not have to occur manually.

The important thing is the embodiment of the end 2 of the apparatus 1. At this end, the apparatus 1 terminates in a bolt or post 5 that is provided with a conical portion 6, which tapers toward the free end, and with a thread 7. The conical portion 6 can be held securely in position in bores of varying sizes.

In one advantageous embodiment of the apparatus 1, there is in addition provided a cylindrical portion 8, ahead of the conical portion 6, that serves as a guide during the insertion of the post 5 into a bore.

It has been shown to be particularly advantageous to use a double thread 7 having a pitch of 3.5 mm. 

1-4. Cancelled
 5. An apparatus for handling pins for ninepins or bowling, comprising: a post that is adapted to be introduced into a bore of a pin and to be held securely in position therein, wherein said post has a conical configuration and tapers toward a free end thereof.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said conical post is provided with an external thread.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said post is provided with a cylindrical extension that is disposed at said free end ahead of said conical portion of said post.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 5, which further comprises a handle at an end of said apparatus that is remote from said conical post. 